Millimeter wave spatial crossbar for a millimeter-wave-connected data center
View Patent ↗A first spatial crossbar may transmit data to a second spatial crossbar via a first millimeter wave beam between the first spatial crossbar and the second spatial crossbar. The first spatial crossbar may also transmit data to a third spatial crossbar via a second millimeter wave beam between the first spatial crossbar and the second spatial crossbar. The first millimeter wave beam may emanate from the first spatial crossbar at a first angle and be redirected toward the second spatial crossbar by a reflective surface. The second millimeter wave beam may emanate from the first spatial crossbar at a second angle and be redirected toward the third spatial crossbar by a reflective surface. The transmission to the second spatial crossbar may be concurrent with the transmission to the third spatial crossbar.
1. A method comprising:
in a data center comprising a first server rack housing a first spatial crossbar, a second server rack housing a second spatial crossbar, and a third server rack housing a third spatial crossbar, performing by said first spatial crossbar:
transmitting data to said second spatial crossbar via a first millimeter wave beam between said first spatial crossbar and said second spatial crossbar; and
transmitting data to said third spatial crossbar via a second millimeter wave beam between said first spatial crossbar and said third spatial crossbar, wherein:
said first millimeter wave beam emanates from said first spatial crossbar at a first angle and is redirected toward said second spatial crossbar by a reflective surface in said data center;
said second millimeter wave beam emanates from said first spatial crossbar at a second angle and is redirected toward said third spatial crossbar by a reflective surface in said data center;
said transmitting to said second spatial crossbar is concurrent with said transmitting to said third spatial crossbar.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
said first server rack houses a first server; and
said method comprises receiving said data from said first server via a wired or fiber link.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
said first server rack houses a top-of-rack switch; and
said method comprises receiving said data from said top-of-rack switch via a wired or fiber link.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
said first spatial crossbar comprises a lens that is mounted to a wall of said server rack; and
said first millimeter wave beam and said second millimeter wave beam pass through said lens.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first server rack, said second server rack, and said third server rack are arranged in a row of racks in said data center.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein;
said first spatial crossbar comprises a lens mounted to a top wall of said first server rack; and
said reflective surface is above said row of racks.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein;
said first spatial crossbar comprises a lens mounted to a side wall of said first server rack; and
said reflective surface is to the side of said row of racks.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein;
said first spatial crossbar comprises a lens mounted to a bottom wall of said first server rack; and
said reflective surface is to below said row of racks.
9. The method of claim 1 , comprising receiving data from said second spatial crossbar via a third millimeter wave beam between said first spatial crossbar and said second spatial crossbar.
10. The method of claim 9 , comprising receiving data from said third spatial crossbar via a fourth millimeter wave beam between said first spatial crossbar and said second spatial crossbar, wherein:
said third millimeter wave beam is incident on said first spatial crossbar at said first angle;
said fourth millimeter wave beam is incident on said first spatial crossbar at said second angle;
said reception of said data from said second spatial crossbar is concurrent with said reception of said data from said third spatial crossbar.
11. A system comprising:
a first spatial crossbar for use in a first server rack, said first spatial crossbar being operable to:
transmit data to a second spatial crossbar of a second server rack via a first millimeter wave beam between said first spatial crossbar and said second spatial crossbar; and
transmit data to a third spatial crossbar of a third server rack via a second millimeter wave beam between said first spatial crossbar and said third spatial crossbar, wherein:
said first millimeter wave beam emanates from said first spatial crossbar at a first angle and is redirected toward said second spatial crossbar by a reflective surface in said data center;
said second millimeter wave beam emanates from said first spatial crossbar at a second angle and is redirected toward said third spatial crossbar by a reflective surface in said data center;
said transmission to said second spatial crossbar is concurrent with said transmission to said third spatial crossbar.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein:
said first server rack houses a first server; and
said first spatial crossbar is operable to receive said data from said first server via a wired or fiber link.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein:
said first server rack houses a top-of-rack switch; and
said first spatial crossbar is operable to receive said data from said top-of-rack switch via a wired or fiber link.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein:
said first spatial crossbar comprises a lens that is mounted to a wall of said first server rack; and
said first millimeter wave beam and said second millimeter wave beam pass through said lens.
15. The system of claim 11 , wherein said first server rack, said second server rack, and said third server rack are arranged in a row of racks in a data center.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein;
said first spatial crossbar comprises a lens mounted to a top wall of said first server rack; and
said reflective surface is above said row of racks.
17. The system of claim 15 , wherein;
said first spatial crossbar comprises a lens mounted to a side wall of said first server rack; and
said reflective surface is to the side of said row of racks.
18. The system of claim 15 , wherein;
said first spatial crossbar comprises a lens mounted to a bottom wall of said first server rack; and
said reflective surface is to below said row of racks.
19. The system of claim 11 , wherein said first spatial crossbar is operable to receive data from said second spatial crossbar via a third millimeter wave beam between said first spatial crossbar and said second spatial crossbar.
20. The system of claim 19 , said first spatial crossbar is operable to receive data from said third spatial crossbar via a fourth millimeter wave beam between said first spatial crossbar and said second spatial crossbar, wherein:
said third millimeter wave beam is incident on said first spatial crossbar at said first angle;
said fourth millimeter wave beam is incident on said first spatial crossbar at said second angle;
said reception of said data from said second spatial crossbar is concurrent with said reception of said data from said third spatial crossbar.